THE KOESTLER TRUST
The Koestler Trust is the UK's leading charity for arts in prisons. Through awards, feedback, mentoring, outreach and involvement, it plays a unique national role in encouraging offenders, secure psychiatric patients and immigration detainees to take part in the arts, often transforming their lives. The Trust then brings prison arts to the public through exhibitions, publications and events.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity ended the year with a small surplus of £2,521, having overcome a projected deficit through cost management and fundraising efforts. Per the trustees' report, the charity relies on critical funding from major partners like the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Arts Council England, while maintaining unrestricted reserves of £259,512 against a policy target of three months' expenditure.
What the accounts disclose
“One (2024: one) employee received remuneration of more than £60,000 between £70,001 to £80,000.” — page 27
“One (2024: one) employee received remuneration of more than £60,000 between £70,001 to £80,000.” — page 27
“One trustee, Gary Mansfield, received a total fee of £400 for delivering a talk at a university and for a freelance visit to HMP Maidstone on behalf of Koestler Arts. There were no other related party transactions.”
“These financial statements consolidate the results of the Charity and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Koestler (Sales) Limited” — page 21
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Trustees
- SIR RICHARD NICHOLAS HEATON KCBchair
- Amy Frost
- Carrie Peters
- Dr Nora Laraki
- Gary Anthony Badley
- Gary Mansfield
- JEREMY DELLER
- Jasmin Booth
- Page Nyame -Satterthwaite
- Sally Bacon OBE
- Thomas Robert Campbell
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £964k | £962k |
| 31/03/2024 | £814k | £849k |
| 31/03/2023 | £1.4m | £996k |
| 31/03/2022 | £1.3m | £882k |
| 31/03/2021 | £1.4m | £761k |
Common questions
Is THE KOESTLER TRUST financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity ended the year with a small surplus of £2,521, having overcome a projected deficit through cost management and fundraising efforts. Per the trustees' report, the charity relies on critical funding from major partners like the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Arts Council England, while maintaining unrestricted reserves of £259,512 against a policy target of three months' expenditure. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Knox Cropper LLP.
What does the highest-paid employee of THE KOESTLER TRUST earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £70,001 - £80,000 band, and 1 employees earned over £60,000.
Who funds THE KOESTLER TRUST?
Funders whose own accounts filings name THE KOESTLER TRUST as a grant recipient include THE FIDELITY UK FOUNDATION, THE 29TH MAY 1961 CHARITY, PAUL HAMLYN FOUNDATION, THE VALENTINE CHARITABLE TRUST, THE BROMLEY TRUST.
Known funders
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| A B Charitable Trust | 20/04/2023 | £15k | A grant to Koestler Arts |
| A B Charitable Trust | 06/12/2021 | £15k | A grant to Koestler Arts |
| A B Charitable Trust | 04/12/2020 | £15k | A grant to Koestler Arts |
| A B Charitable Trust | 09/01/2020 | £15k | A grant to Koestler Arts |
| UK government | 01/04/2019 | £75k | Koestler Trust |
| UK government | 01/04/2019 | £450k | Koestler Trust |
| UK government | 01/04/2019 | £75k | HMPPS - Engagement to Motivate Offenders to Participate in the Arts |
| A B Charitable Trust | 24/04/2018 | £10k | A grant to Koestler Trust |
| A B Charitable Trust | 24/01/2017 | £10k | A grant to Koestler Trust |
| A B Charitable Trust | 26/01/2016 | £10k | Prison Art |
| A B Charitable Trust | 27/01/2015 | £10k | achievement in the arts |
| A B Charitable Trust | 21/01/2014 | £10k | support to women prisoners |
| City Bridge Foundation | 27/09/2012 | £78k | Grant to Koestler Trust |
| City Bridge Foundation | 08/09/2011 | £0 | Grant to Koestler Trust |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE DULVERTON TRUST | 2 | £190k |
| DRAPERS CHARITABLE FUND | 2 | £95k |
| The Goldsmiths' Foundation | 2 | £76k |
| THE SIR JAMES RECKITT CHARITY | 2 | £26k |
| MISS E F RATHBONE CHARITABLE TRUST | 2 | £7k |
| THE ROTHSCHILD FOUNDATION | 1 | £506k |
| THE DAWES TRUST | 1 | £380k |
| GARFIELD WESTON FOUNDATION | 1 | £200k |
Charities like this
- THE IRENE TAYLOR TRUST
- KESTREL THEATRE COMPANY
- THE ARTANGEL TRUST
- COLWINSTON CHARITABLE TRUST
- PRISON REFORM TRUST
- THE THEATRE IN PRISONS AND PROBATION CENTRE
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE KOESTLER TRUST | £964k | £70,001 - £80,000 | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE IRENE TAYLOR TRUST | £440k | — | 0 | below | — | no doubt |
| KESTREL THEATRE COMPANY | £105k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| THE ARTANGEL TRUST | £1.4m | £90,001 - £100,000 | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| COLWINSTON CHARITABLE TRUST | £1.3m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| PRISON REFORM TRUST | £2.0m | — | — | above | — | no doubt |